Five Minute Timewaster

I came across an interesting site today, that amused me for, well, at least five minutes. Called Flickr Fight, the simple idea is to type in two search terms, and the site goes off to Flickr and returns with the numbers of pics tagged with your search terms. The one with the most, wins, obviously. You also get to see some odd pictures associated with some of the tags.

I tried it with Football and Tiddleywinks, and came up with an interesting result; Tiddleywinks had four pics, and football over a million. The problem with that search was there were no football photos in the results page – just a lot of Americans wearing armour, helmets and using a ball of the wrong shape.

Then I tried Clinton and Obama, and chalk and cheese. On the recent searches section of the page, I noticed a rather obvious search, Victoria Beckham and Gary Haliwell and the result was very odd. So odd in fact that I looked more carefully at the search terms, and realised that Gary Haliwell works at a chip shop in Darlington, and Geri Halliwell used to be a Turkish TV Presenter.

Pooi Geri still loses in a fair fight though.

That Spicy search has been on the recent searches section of that page all day. Either somebody is having a little laugh at our expense, or a lot of people are going to be very confused.

ASH Videos : Bendamustine

The American Society of Heamatology recently had their annual conference. The top experts present were interviewed on various topics, and here are four brief excerpts on Bendamustine.

The first is Keating, looking very relaxed.

Secondly, here is Kipps.

O’Brien, who looks a lot younger than I expected.

Lastly, the old man, Rai. Such a softly spoken man.

These comments were obviously recorded before “Treanda” recieved approval by the FDA very recently. The FDA gave its approval on the basis of recently published clinical trials, comparing Bendamustine with Chlorambucil. Rai seems to be the only one who acknowledges that this “New” drug is in fact decades old. You can read Chaya’s interpretation of the trial results here. I would have liked the unseen interviewer to ask the following question,

“Why do you think that the dosage parameters for the Chlorambucil arm of these trials were far lower than accepted dosage levels for firstline treatment?”

(Chaya notes that – in both clinical trials they managed to test against a less than effective dosage of chlorambucil.)

It is also interesting to note that a few weeks ago, Treanda was approved by the FDA. Cephalon (who sell Treanda in the US) shares soared, and four senior directors of the company made a fortune selling some of their stock.

Big Pharma. Sheesh.

Preventing Colds And Flu (Some Readers Digest Tips)

Not that I read the Readers Digest except when in doctors waiting rooms, but I was reading this article in, well, the Readers Digest today, and I thought it was worth sharing with CLLers. It consists of 23 tips to help prevent colds and flu, and they all seem pretty sensible, without much woo content, and they can’t do us any harm. Fact is, it seems like a good idea to read through this lot, and see how your own behaviour can be modified to fit.

I particularly likes the toothbrush tip, reproduced here -

Run your toothbrush through the microwave on high for 10 seconds to kill germs that can cause colds and other illnesses. You think it gets your teeth clean — and it does. But once you’re done brushing, your toothbrush is a breeding ground for germs. Sterilize it in the microwave before you use it…………

You may think I’m being a bit paranoid, but any CLLer could be considered to be immune compromised, and it would be silly to be complacent. I would add that this sort of thing has not taken over my life, but I wash my hands a little more often than I used to. I do take more care brushing my teeth, I get a flu shot, and try to get some herd immunity too by getting the family immunised too. As a CLLer in the UK, our immediate families also qualify for a flu shot, no matter their age.

Be careful if you have an electric toothbrush however, and just microwave the toothbrush bit, and not the electrics. You’d think that would be obvious wouldn’t you. I bet the Readers Digest get complaints from the intellectually challenged.

New Page Added

Instead of a separate blog post dedicated to the index of posts by Prof Hamblin on CLL, on his blog Mutations of Mortality, I have now given over a whole page to the Professor. You can find it by clicking on “Hamblin On CLL” in the navigation area at the top of this page, just underneath the words “A Lymphomaniac Blogs.”

I have added three more posts to this list today, written by the Prof earlier this month.

Other recent changes include the addition of a miniblog on the right of the page, which is just a series of links to sites that interest me.  I hope they interest you as well.  As I add sites to the list, old ones will fall off the bottom, so there will always be something new to see.

Would You Believe It?

One of the oddest things to come to my attention in the last few days is the case of the American Professor who is claiming half a million dollars for what we would probably call “wrongful dismissal.”

“The zebrafish specialist said his civil rights were violated when he was dismissed shortly after telling his superior he did not accept evolution because he believed the Bible presented a true account of human creation.” Reuters

To me, it is a little silly to be a biologist and a creationist at the same time. They are mutually incompatible. It would be like applying for, and getting, a job as a bus driver, only to tell the boss when he hands you the keys that you cannot drive. Don’t just take my word for it though, how about a fully paid up molecular biologist who happens to be very Christian. (Does that mean he’s a Christian Scientist?)

“So in light of the issue’s new prominence and with a desire to improve the mental hygiene of others, I would just like to say that Intelligent Design is a really, really bad idea –scientifically, politically, and theologically. I say this as a dedicated conservative, who has on many occasions defended and espoused religion and religious conservatism. I also say it as a professional molecular biologist, who has worked daily (or at least week-daily) for years with biological problems to which the theory of evolution has contributed significant understanding — and to which Intelligent Design is incapable of contributing any understanding at all. ” Mac Johnson

So there you have it. A fishy biologist who thinks evolution isn’t.

I hope you are asking about now why I’ve categorised this as a CLL post, as well as a Badscience one. Here is the reason. Our Creationist Professor had the following as the title of his PhD thesis -

“Abraham, Nathaniel. Role of Programmed Cell Death in Defining Zebrafish Development. Thesis (Ph. D.)–St. John’s University, 2004″

The words Programmed Cell Death are the key; that is apoptosis by any other name, and all CLLers know that the understanding of the failure of apoptosis in our b-cells is one of the keys to a possible cure.

As I already said, I don’t think he is entitled to his half million.

The Lights Are On, But Nobody’s Homeo

In order to help in the understanding of homeopathy, a whole bunch of concerned citizens, anxious to spread some understanding into the mysterious world of homeopathic thinking, came up with some definitions. It illustrates how homeopathy looks to rational thinkers as much as anything I’ve seen. It also enables me to link to some of the Bad Science blogs that I have been reading lately.

Homeapathy : 1 The belief that, while he has made some very cogent points, Ben should pick on someone else. 2) Not bothering to take your placebos.

Homeostasis : Complete inability to absorb new information.

Disprovings : Drinking water in laboratory controlled conditions, and Absolutely Nothing Happening.

Homeapethy : Treating large hairy primates with infinitesimal dilutions of nothing in particular.

Homeogeneous : Similar in nature, eg all homeopathic preparations are homeogeneous as “there’s nowt in ‘em.”

Homeosexual : A proclivity for sleeping with alternative practitioners.

Homeophonics : Changing the definition of words to justify your delusion.

Homeocide : Using homeopathy to treat meningitis.

Homeologue : Reaction of a CAM practitioner to rational arguments.

Homeobath : Running out of soap.

HIFIopathy : Hawking expensive MP3s to the confused.

Avogoogolplex constant: 6.03 x 10 to the twenty third (to the two hundred and thirtieth.)

Psycheopath (n) (i) One possessed with an homeopathological hatred of all that is not homeopathy. (ii) pretty much all of them then.

Homeopathetic : adj. Homeopathalogically consistent (see homeopathological – adj.)

homeopathological : adj. Evidence-free.

Homeothermic : The body temperature that results after reliance on homeopathic remedies. Ambient temperature.

Homeoeroticism : The excitement felt by homeo sapiens during an act of self-potentisation.

Homeorary Degree : they cost less on the internet.

Garden Hoe : Herbalist / Homeopath hybrid.

Homeungous: Quite small.

Homeo & Juliet : Heartwarming modern retelling of the previously miserable Shakespeare play. In it, Homeo attempts to kill himself with a 100C dilution of poison, which surprisingly fails to kill him despite its high potency. Homeo eventually gets over his malaise and finds out that Juliet is alive, and they live reasonably happily ever after, although in all honesty their relationship turns out to be slightly less exciting once the initial thrill of forbidden love is over.

Homi-er than thou : Patronising and dismissive response to anyone suggesting a homextremist might be slightly wrong about anything at all. Ever.

Ad-homeo : Responding to legitimate enquiries as to the efficacy of homoepathy by questioning the ethics, funding, parentage and sexual proclivity of the enquirer; “You might claim that there is no peer reviewed double blind placebo controlled trial evidence proving the efficacy of homeopathic remedies, but my dad can fight your dad, smelly bum, so neeuuuur !”

Homyopia : n. selective eyesight, to not see the evidence.

Homeopoly : A board game where all the properties are water works, and buying them actually doesn’t achieve anything.

Homeungus : Invisibly large (or largely invisible).

Homeolysis : Splitting of a group into two factions, one claiming science has proven them right and the other claiming science can’t prove them right or wrong.

‘At Homeo‘ : Genteel society party with no guests.

Homeo keys : Used to locate the fingers on the keyboard so as to be able to type without looking at the facts.

Homeotmosphere : The tenuous gas layer existing above the Thermosphere.

Homeor Simpson : “Water! The cause of, and solution to, all of life’s problems!”

Frontal Homeotomy : Deliberate removal or interference with the region of the brain involved in rationalisation.

diHydrogen Homeoxide : The panacae, Lord God of Homeopaths : The Giver of Life.

The Homeo Counties – a region in the South East of England surrounding London where bored middle-class humanities graduates play Doctors and Nurses on their neurotic neighbours.

Homeoptics : The art of only seeing what you want to see.

Hom-burger : Bread bun without anything in it.

Homeophonic : Simultanoeus high pitched whining noise of victimhood made by all homeopaths.

Homeonym : words used by homeopaths that have different meanings from their standard scientific or everyday usage, like nano, quantum, energy, cure, evidence, truth, ethics, credibility.

Homeospun : Homeopathic evidence.

Homanities graduate : University graduate who hasn’t a clue what science is.

Homeo sickness : The period before homeocide.

Succussion : The act of deposing and replacing an old homeopath by repeatedly banging their head against something hard until they give up.

Homo homeo sapiens : A new species of mankind with special hypochondriac powers.

Hom-burg : An infinitessimally small hat.

Homeo erectus : (Lat: Upright Quack) 1) n: prehistoric missing link 2) adj: under endowed.

Homeocracy : Very economical system of electing a government where millions of voters all use the same vote, on the same voting slip, at the same time, in the same place…

Ice 9 : Type of water with a memory.

Thanks to the following for all their ideas, which I have gleefully nicked, including the title.

Confuseling Troubledjoe Gimpy Lexsmith pv JQH Ambrielle Jonnyhead Manigen Seenoevil Norbury Nekomatic CrackMouse Lecanardnoir

Dr. Strangelove Bites Back

Further to my recent comments about my last appointment with Dr. Strangelove, I have received my copy of the normal follow up letter that he sends to my GP.

In it, he outlined what I already outlined earlier, gave a brief run down of the blood results, and some other comment.

It is signed, as normal, with an addendum that reads -

AKA “Strangelove”

NHS Dentistry Returns To Sedgefield

As a NHS dental patient, I was very sad to see the former village dentist take his attic practice out of the NHS and into the Church Of Mammon. I’m not surprised that so many people have been practising DIY dentistry, or that my local area hospital dental specialists have noticed an increase in “emergency admissions” that would have routinely been dealt with at the coal face, prior to the mass dental exodus.

Not all is lost to NHS patients in Sedgefield though, as the Sedgefield PCT have been working with a local NHS dental practise to provide Sedgefield with dentistry again. The plan is to build a surgery on the land occupied by the mechanics workshop on the corner near the fire station. While out walking my dog the other day, I noticed that the dental practise have installed a couple of discreet “land acquired” signs, so this plan seems to be well under way.

There seems to have been some concern on the part of locals about issues of car parking surrounding this development. Thinking about it, I don’t think there will be too much of a problem as there appears to be plenty of space available. I do recall parking in the church car park opposite on one occasion, and being told off in a very unchristian manner by a passing Methodist.

If car parking does become a problem however, there is a solution available that would improve matters.

Get rid of the chicanes / raised flower beds / traffic “calming” obstructions on Durham Road.

Four Months Post Chemo

I went to see Dr. Strangelove today at the Castle Nosferatu local hospital out patients clinic.

He took one of those long wistful looks at the latest (more or less normal) blood test results. We decided that I don’t have to see him again for another six months, as I have no bothersome b-symptoms left either. And that’s it. I’m in control, as if I do notice anything creeping up on me, I have to contact him for an earlier meeting.

This is particularly good news, and it means that I have to try to get into the feel of being more or less normal. Any symptoms I feel at the moment are probably due to mind altering drugs/alcohol/indigestion/old age.

Forums For Good, Forums For Bad

In the Times on Monday this week there was a piece about online health forums, and how they provide such a useful resource so many people who may otherwise go uninformed about their condition. CLLers are very well served in this respect, having one of the oldest forums of this type in the world.

The ACOR CLL list was established in 1996 and currently has 2,606 subscribers from around the world. As always there has to be a British version, but ours has 100 subscribers, and is rarely used, and the Canadians have 180 members. There is a Yahoo CLL/SLL group, and a Facebook group and there are world class experts participating. The Lymphoma and Leukaemia society in the US has a forum, There is the CLL Forum and CLLCfriends forum. (all effectively US based)

In the UK, Leukaemia Care has a forum, with very strange rules, and there is the UK CLL Forum, which the UK CLL Support Association has abandoned. If you have a UK specific question, it might be worth asking there, as the two guys running that forum (somebody called Andysnat, and Robert) think that it is very worthwhile maintaining it.

You may be thinking, if you are a CLLer, “Yes, but we already know most of this Andy, except that bit about the two guys.” On the other hand, perhaps somebody new to CLL might stumble over here, and then I’d have done a little good by pointing them in the right direction. I’d like to do something else good in the process as well, and reinforce a little warning that appeared in the Times article.

It said “Check any medical advice that you receive from a forum with your doctor.”

I’d add to that along the lines of -

“Don’t squirt coffee up your bottom”

and

“A balanced diet is probably better than popping vitamin pills”

and

“If Mangosteen or Acai juice cured CLL I wouldn’t have just finished four months of Chemotherapy”

A friend of mine sent a message to me that more or less summed it up. In it he said the following -

” What’s wrong is that well-meaning people can encourage people to do the wrong things and discourage them from doing the right ones.”

And that is EXACTLY how I feel, but have never defined it that precisely.

In Australia at the moment, there is an investigation going on into the terrible death of a nine month old child, whose father is a homeopath. I don’t find it important to dwell on the circumstances, but to illustrate the worst kind of thinking that you might expect to find in a forum, here are some homeopaths speculating on the child’s death. (Via Badscience)